SILVER medal-winning swimmer, Julia Beckett, received a rapturous welcome when she returned to Hampshire last weekend.

The 19-year-old was part of England's quartet in the 200m freestyle relay at the Commonwealth Games last month.

Swimming the third leg, she helped the team to a wonderful second place behind the all-powerful host nation, Australia. Her efforts merited a silver medal, which she received with her colleagues, Jo Jackson, Kate Richardson and Mel Marshall.

The former pupil of Kings' School and student of Peter Symonds College,Winchester, has now returned from "Down Under", and, last Friday, was the guest of honour at Shawford Parish Hall, neighbouring village to Compton, where she grew up.

Around 150 well-wishers packed the venue for a reception hosted by Compton and Shawford Parish Council.

Among the guests were Julia's parents, Catherine, an amateur swimming champion herself, and George, who runs a garden centre in Compton and leads the Tory group on Winchester City Council.

Parish council chairman, Adrian Walmsley, said it was not the first time Julia had entertained a large audience at the venue. Several years ago, she played the title role in the village pantomime, Snow White, he recalled.

Next morning, Julia visited the River Park Leisure Centre, in Winchester, where she has trained for many years.

Fellow members of the Winchester Penguins gathered to celebrate her success. While there, she caught up with head coach, Kevin Terry.

Chairman, Lionel Jones, commented when Julia won the silver that they were already looking forward to welcoming her home. "We hope that when she comes back, she can show us her medal," he added.

And she did not disappoint, bringing her hard-earned prize with her as inspiration to all of Winchester's up-and-coming swimmers.

Julia is now on her way back to Loughborough University, where she is studying sports and exercise science.